About the ozone layer

With all the concern about global warming lately, there hasn't been much talk about the ozone layer. But today CNN has some news in that regard. It's an article entitled "Scientists: Ozone layer recovery will take longer" and here's part of what it says:

GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) -- The atmosphere will take up to 15 years longer than previously expected to recover from pollution and repair its ozone hole over the southern hemisphere, the United Nations' weather organization said Friday.

Thinning in the ozone layer -- due to chemical compounds leaked from refrigerators, air conditioners and other devices -- exposes the Earth to harmful solar rays. Too much ultraviolet radiation can cause skin cancer and destroy tiny plants at the beginning of the food chain.

Scientists said Friday it would take until 2065, instead of 2050 as previously expected, for the ozone layer to recover and the hole over the Antarctic to close.

"The Antarctic ozone hole has not become more severe since the late 1990s, but large ozone holes are expected to occur for decades to come," ozone specialist Geir Braathen told reporters in summarizing a new report by the World Meteorological Organization and the U.N. Environment Program. The report will be released next year.

The good news, of course, is that the ozone layer is healing itself because of our choosing to refrain from using chlorofluorocarbons in air conditioners, refrigerators and aerosols. What we need to realize is that this healing will happen when we stop behavior that is damaging to the environment. Now if only we'll follow our own example with regard to global climate change.